Evie’s next move is back to her owners
When the truck delivers Evie this week, it’ll end an epic ordeal for a dog that was mistakenly given away, survived a historic flood and ended up in Nebraska.
Her owner, Heather Whitener, refused to give up on her, even when getting her back meant tracking her down through multiple shelters and asking for the financial help for transportation to bring her back to St. Charles Parish and her family.
“I’ve loved her ever since I set eyes on her,” Whitener said. “She followed me around everywhere. She would jump in the kiddie pool with the kids, and try to eat the water coming out of the water gun my youngest daughter would shoot at her. She’s family and she was gonna get home somehow.”Evie came to Whitener’s family as a gift from her boyfriend.
She described her as “this little white fur ball” that tucked herself under her arm. The white Lab mix was only 7 weeks old at the time.
For Whitener, it was love at first sight.
But, in July of last year, they lost Evie while relocating to Destrehan.
“Our whole family was very sad,” Whitener said. “Her presence with us made our family whole. Is a family really complete without our fur babies?”
Even though she’s microchipped, they didn’t hear word from the company on her whereabouts so Whitener started searching shelters and found her in the St. John Parish Animal Shelter by August of last year.
“Before I was able to get her, St. John [the Baptist] Parish flooded,” she said.
When Whitener contacted the animal shelter, she learned Evie was among 41 dogs picked up by Paradise Pets in Kenner.
An employee found records showing she had then been picked up by Take Paws Rescue and transported to Hearts United for Animals in Nebraska.
John Adams with Hearts United confirmed they had Evie, now renamed Pearl, and was interviewing prospective adopters for her by the time he heard from Whitener.
“She’s been a delightful dog and always gotten along with other dogs,” Adams said. “She’s kind of an easy keeper.”A retired doctor who is also a pilot flew the dogs to the shelter on Oct. 13 of last year.
Whitener had contacted Hearts United for Animals and, after three weeks of verifying ownership, finally confirmed they had Evie.
Transport had been arranged for her when it was suddenly cancelled and the family couldn’t find another facility to do it. They found USHip.com, which agreed to deliver Evie for $360. They lacked the funds to do it, but Whitener set up a Gofundme account and, when the donations came, they arranged her transfer.
“The best part is my daughter’s birthday is July 9th,” Whitener said. “And the delivery date is July 8 or 9. I am so grateful to everyone that shared my story and made donations.”
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